… issues timelines to Sterling mgt. for compliance, insists on strict adherence
Oredola Adeola
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has raised concerns over multiple cases of noncompliance in the operations of Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Limited, warning that it will not tolerate such violations.
The Board has issued specific timelines for the company to rectify the identified breaches, underscoring the importance of adhering strictly to the deadlines.
Engr. Felix Ogbe, Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, issued the warning during a meeting with top executives of Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Limited, who paid a courtesy visit to the Board’s headquarters in Yenagoa on Tuesday.
The ES charged the company to upscale its compliance level with Nigerian Content requirements for oil and gas industry operations.
Recall that Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) recently exposed alleged anti-labour practices, discriminatory treatment of Nigerian workers, and violations of expatriate quota regulations by Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Limited.
The Union launched industrial actions, shutting down the company’s facilities nationwide to demand immediate reforms.
During that protest, Comrade Festus Osifo, PENGASSAN National President, disclosed that over 10,000 job positions at Sterling Oil are reportedly occupied by Indian nationals, with Nigerians making up less than one percent of the company’s workforce.
Addressing the executives of the company, Engr. Ogbe said, “Complying with the law is the easiest thing to do,” pointing out that cutting corners is unethical and fraught with risks that could prove ultimately costly.
He noted that full compliance would not hinder the company from operating profitably.
He said he was pleased with the pledge by the company Management to reset its relationship with the NCDMB and to foster collaboration that would be mutually beneficial.
“I want to work with you on a sound footing,” he assured, adding, “We want to create an enabling environment for companies to thrive.”
Members of the NCDMB Management at the meeting stated their own experiences with Sterling Oil in the enforcement of regulations and monitoring of compliance.
Mr. Isaac Yalah , Director, Planning, Research, and Statistics (PRS), said expatriate quota issues in Sterling need to be addressed.
Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu, Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, reminded Sterling Oil that NCDMB has set timelines for it to address the various areas of noncompliance, emphasizing the need for those timelines to be complied with.
For his part, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, Director, Project Certification and Authorisation Directorate (PICAD), said tokenism in compliance was unacceptable to the NCDMB and that Sterling Oil needs to fulfil all Nigerian Content requirements.
Naboth Onyesoh, Director, Legal Services, Barrister. told the Sterling Management that the company should have reset its relationship with the NCDMB, but reminded its Management that the impressive strides of the Board in local content implementation were as a result of fruitful collaboration with other industry stakeholders.
Mr. Dortie Ejiro, General Manager, Commercial Ventures, observed that non-compliance and legacy issues at the company included non-compliance with human capacity expectations on projects and urged the Management to address the same expeditiously.
Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, General Manager, Corporate Communications, commended the oil company for its expressed desire to turn a new leaf and to align its activities with the goals of the NCDMB.
He noted that stakeholder collaboration is a key pillar of the Nigerian Content 10-year strategic roadmap and charged the company to keep to its words.
Mr. Mohit Barot, Chief Operating Officer of Sterling Oil, responding to the comments by the ES and other top management of the Board described the engagement with the NCDMB Management as “a launch pad to reset the relationship with the Board.”
He commended NCDMB for giant strides recorded in the past few years, noting that the Board has fostered deeper oil and gas development.
He expressed the readiness of his company to key into projects and programmes of the Board such as the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS) and the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) 2025.
According to Mr. Barot, his company was prepared for meaningful collaboration with the NCDMB to foster the economic development of the country.
Sterling’s Group Chief Operating Officer was accompanied on the courtesy visit to the NCDMB by the company’s Regional Manager, Mr. Chandrakanth Kayarmar Ramesh, and the Nigerian Content Manager, Mr. David Ayongo.
